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Tuesday, 17 November 2015

The last reasonable night?

There were actually quite a few moths around last night because it remained mild, there was little wind and the forecast rain turned out not to be as heavy as expected. The actinic was run indoors again and found on the conservatory windows at 6am this morning were Blastobasis lacticolella (1), Udea ferrugalis (1), Emmelina monodactyla (1), Red-green Carpet (4), Winter Moth (3), Turnip (1), Dark Chestnut (2), Brick (1), Red-line Quaker (1) & Silver Y (1), although the moths were easily outnumbered by diptera - in particular the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria! The previous night had seen only two moths brave the high winds, December Moth (1) & Angle Shades (1). None of last night's collection was in good condition and the Rusty-dot Pearl below illustrates this rather well.

Udea ferrugalis, Westcott 16th November

Silver Y, Westcott 16th November

With another storm due tonight and then the weather expected to turn much colder, that may be it for the chance of any migrant activity this year, especially this far inland, but I'd happily be proved wrong...